Questions mount over attack on joint forces camp

Fresh questions have emerged over the armed attack on a joint forces camp in Jangal Salimpur of Sitakunda Upazila, after reports that a newly built camp was demolished, roads were cut and barricaded for an extended period, and gunfire continued for a long time—yet no casualties were reported. The statements of law enforcement agencies have sparked discussion and debate.

According to officials, armed assailants attacked a camp built for the joint forces in the Alinagar area of Jangal Salimpur at around 1:00am on Sunday. At the same time, they attempted to attack another temporary camp set up at the Alinagar Primary and High School field. That camp was scheduled to be inaugurated by the home minister on May 31.
Law enforcement agencies say that before the attack, the assailants used excavators to cut the road at four points along a roughly three-kilometre stretch from the entrance of Jangal Salimpur to Alinagar, creating barricades that effectively isolated the camps inside. Gunfire then began from the surrounding hills. About 300 armed attackers reportedly surrounded the camp from three sides and launched the assault.

Commander RAB-7, Hafizur Rahman, claimed that an exchange of gunfire continued for about one and a half hours. Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam said police fired 105 rounds.

However, several questions have surfaced. Local residents say cutting roads at four locations with excavators would take considerable time and the noise would be audible from far away—yet police and RAB members stationed at camps just a few kilometres away reportedly noticed nothing. Crime reporters have also expressed doubts, noting that despite the use of heavy weapons and prolonged gunfire, no one was injured.

The issue of prior information also appears in the first information report (FIR) filed after the incident. In the case statement, Faujdarhat police outpost inspector Sohel Rana said he received information at around 11:45pm that preparations were underway to attack two camps. He later went to the scene with forces and saw roads cut and barricades erected at several points. At around 12:30am, upon reaching the Alinagar market area, he saw attackers breaking a culvert. When police advanced, the assailants detonated cocktails. At about 12:50am, near the Alinagar school camp, the attackers were seen demolishing the boundary wall with excavators.

The case also mentions the seizure of three excavators and three dump trucks. Police say these vehicles were used to destroy government property and carry out sabotage, including hill cutting.
According to the case, the assailants continued cutting and blocking the road for more than two hours. Asked why no additional force arrived from outside to resist the attackers, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Mohammad Sirajul Islam said, “As soon as the police were informed, they responded. Initially, the local police station took action. It was raining at night, and the attackers took advantage of those conditions.”

When asked whether there had been a lack of intelligence, RAB officer Hafizur Rahman said, “The attackers brought excavators along narrow hill roads, cut the road, completed the attack within an hour, and then fled.”